'Fly In' Activists Denied Entry into Israel

On Friday, 8 July 2011, hundreds of activists from around the world were prevented from landing in Israel's Ben Gurion International airport. The activists were invited by Palestinian groups in a campaign called "Welcome to Palestine."

The Fly In was meant to protest Israel's practice of frequently denying the entry of activists and the Palestinian Diaspora into the occupied territories.

Just as the boat flotilla's are being prevented from leaving Greek and Turkish ports, hundreds of activists were prevented from even boarding their flights to Israel, as the Israeli Ministry of Interior sent a letter to airlines alongside a list of names instructing them to deny boarding to passengers whose names appeared on the list.

Editor's Note: Russia Today reports that 40 pro-Palestinian activists, detained in Israel for trying to reach Gaza, are being denied access to lawyers.

Meanwhile the "Audacity of Hope," a boat carrying American activists, including celebrated writer, Alice Walker, and forming part of the Freedom Flotilla II, aimed at breaking the blockade of Gaza, has been detained in the US Embassy/Greek coast guard dock, near Piraeus, just outside Athens. The boat has been trying to set sail for Gaza since 1 July 2011.

In a move to further challenge the activists attempting to reach Gaza, Greek authorities cut off the shore electricity to the boat on 12 July 2011. Read more about this story on the "US to Gaza" website.

For additional reporting on the "Audacity of Hope's" attempts to reach Gaza, visit Democracy Now.